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Basildon Hospital inspection

An experienced team of doctors, nurses and patient representatives will make its first visit to Basildon University Hospital today as part of the Keogh Review into mortality rates at 14 hospitals in England.

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The investigation was prompted to look into Basildon Hospital after two consecutive years of higher than expected deaths. According to NHS statistics, which also take into account patients who died within 30 days of being discharged:

Between July 2010 and June 2011 there were 263 more deaths than the 1658 expected.

Between July 2011 and June 2012 there were 244 more than the projected 1699.

The latest statement from the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation reads:

The Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is absolutely committed to continuing to improve its mortality outcomes.

There is a dedicated group of clinicians, including those external to the Trust, who meet every fortnight to discuss, understand and act on specific diagnostic groups where Hospital Standardised Mortality Ratio/Summary Hospital-level Mortality Indicator indicators are higher than anticipated...

...and to deliver a Trust-wide mortality reduction programme. Mortality is the first quality indicator discussed on the agenda at each Trust Board meeting.

In addition, all hospital deaths are reviewed to identify any lessons that can be learned about the care given.

Clare Panniker, Chief Executive, said:

“We will fully support the review by Sir Bruce Keogh and believe it can only further support our work in this area.

A great deal of work has already taken place, and more is underway to achieve consistently high standards of care, including the introduction of a Trust-wide Quality and Safety turnaround programme.

This is looking at all areas of patient quality and safety, to ensure everyone who comes here receives high quality care and does not come to any harm.

Clearly some of these changes, alongside improvements we are making to how we communicate and listen to staff, will take time. However, we are working hard and are committed to making Basildon Hospital worthy of the local community it serves.

We are working closely with external stakeholders, including regulators, to achieve our aspirations.”

During their rapid response review the external team will talk to staff, patients and families, as well as members of the public. Everyone will be encouraged to provide frank and honest opinions about the quality of care and treatment provided to patients.

The review aims to discover whether there are any sustained failings in the quality of care and treatment being provided. It will also examine the Trusts plans to improve the care it delivers to patients.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister asked Professor Sir Bruce Keogh - the Medical Director of NHS England - to review the quality of care and treatment provided by 14 NHS hospitals that have shown higher than expected mortality ratios over the past two years.

Basildon is one of those hospitals.

The review aims to discover whether there are any sustained failings in the quality of care and treatment being provided. It will also examine the Trusts plans to improve the care it delivers to patients.

The review followed the publication of the Francis Report into Mid-Staffordshire Hospitals.

That report concluded that "patients were routinely neglected by a Trust that was preoccupied with cost cutting, targets and processes and which lost sight of its fundamental responsibility to provide safe care."

The visit to Basildon Hospital is expected to last 2 days. Professor Keogh will report on his findings by the summer.